Duchene wants 30

Matt Duchene, talking today about his desire to reach the 30-goal mark. He’s got 27, with seven games to play, including tonight’s against Nashville. He talks about whether he thinks he’s been better this year than last year.
Adam Foote and Ryan Wilson are out again tonight, and Cameron Gaunce was recalled again from Lake Erie.

Who’s the guy that said Duchene wouldn’t even get to 60 points this season? He’s surpassed it and if he keeps up the pace he could carry it into next season. I hope you get more than 30 Duchene, good to see your confidence is back though.

Anonymous

Who’s the guy that said Duchene wouldn’t even get to 60 points this season? He’s surpassed it and if he keeps up the pace he could carry it into next season. I hope you get more than 30 Duchene, good to see your confidence is back though.

90mph

^ Yep. I hope he hits 35. It’s a stretch but to achieve it would be awesome.

90mph

^ Yep. I hope he hits 35. It’s a stretch but to achieve it would be awesome.

Chris Morrow

It figures that Duchene is more concerned with his own personal stats than the Avalanche winning games as a team. But, hey, that’s the kind of player he is. Selfish, egotistical, and unconcerned with winning. Most of his points this year have come in losses. He isn’t clutch in any respect, and always tries to beat two defenders on his own instead of dishing the puck to an open teammate. He’s also extremely weak on the puck near the boards.
Based on his pre-draft reports, he was expected to be in the 90+ point range by this time, and he’s not even going to reach 70. Can you say bust?

Chris

Can you say troll?

ard8

A post like Chris Morrow’s goes far beyond the requirements for trolling. No, he’s firmly in the realm of advancedd-bagism.

What’s really funny is that if Duchene had said he had no interest in reaching 30 the same guy would be here saying that Duchene had no motivation, lacked leadership skills and had quit on his team. Gotta love it.

Vamjl

You couldn’t be more wrong. He’s scored 31 points in the Av’s 28 wins and 30 points in their 47 losses. No pre-draft report said Duchene would score 90+ points by age 20.

Only 5 NHL players will reach 90+ points this year. Daniel Sedin scored 90+ points this season for the first time in his 10 year career.

Saves me the trouble of delousing this troll’s braincase for once. Props vamjl

slappywhite

Really? Duchene is selfish? See, when I didnt get that impression when he thanks the fans every time he is interviewed on the ice…we can all agree that he is, statistically, a great player but more importantly if you actually watch him play (which you clearly dont) you will notice he brings 100% every game, he has heart and its usually his enthusiastic play that lifts the team up when they are in the dumps…but somehow you get “selfish” from that…Keep rocking Dutchy! GO AVS GO!!!

Anonymous

I also love all these “experts” opinions on Duchene’s strength on the puck. Take off your blinders and watch the kid play, he’s really strong protecting the puck when he gets down in the corners, it’s ridiculous sometimes how well he’s able to stay on his feet and push through.

3hetricks

well said

Jsteve21

Wow, where to start?

1st: He is the reason the Avs are not the bottom of food chain right now!
2nd: If you were on a team that was struggling wouldn’t you want to focus on whatever positives you could find?
3rd: Clutch? I guess you forgot the shootout goal he scored against Vancouver last year to get us into the playoffs!
4th: Stamkos…took him 3+ years to hit his stride. Duchene will push the century mark next year…mark my words!
5th: Your a troll! Enough said!

Chris Morrow

Duchene did not score a goal last year to get the Avs in the playoffs. He put a puck in a net during a NHL skills competition endorsed by one G. Bettman.

The Avs were awarded a playoff spot by “winning”a skills competition that Vancouver had zero interest in.

It was not a goal. It was an NHL rule change (a stupid one at that) that allowed the Avalanche to be awarded a playoff spot.

Facts are facts.

Chris Morrow

It figures that Duchene is more concerned with his own personal stats than the Avalanche winning games as a team. But, hey, that’s the kind of player he is. Selfish, egotistical, and unconcerned with winning. Most of his points this year have come in losses. He isn’t clutch in any respect, and always tries to beat two defenders on his own instead of dishing the puck to an open teammate. He’s also extremely weak on the puck near the boards.
Based on his pre-draft reports, he was expected to be in the 90+ point range by this time, and he’s not even going to reach 70. Can you say bust?

Vamjl

You couldn’t be more wrong. He’s scored 31 points in the Av’s 28 wins and 30 points in their 47 losses. No pre-draft report said Duchene would score 90+ points by age 20.

Only 5 NHL players will reach 90+ points this year. Daniel Sedin scored 90+ points this season for the first time in his 10 year career.

Really? Duchene is selfish? See, when I didnt get that impression when he thanks the fans every time he is interviewed on the ice…we can all agree that he is, statistically, a great player but more importantly if you actually watch him play (which you clearly dont) you will notice he brings 100% every game, he has heart and its usually his enthusiastic play that lifts the team up when they are in the dumps…but somehow you get “selfish” from that…Keep rocking Dutchy! GO AVS GO!!!

Anonymous

I also love all these “experts” opinions on Duchene’s strength on the puck. Take off your blinders and watch the kid play, he’s really strong protecting the puck when he gets down in the corners, it’s ridiculous sometimes how well he’s able to stay on his feet and push through.

3hetricks

well said

Jsteve21

Wow, where to start?

1st: He is the reason the Avs are not the bottom of food chain right now!
2nd: If you were on a team that was struggling wouldn’t you want to focus on whatever positives you could find?
3rd: Clutch? I guess you forgot the shootout goal he scored against Vancouver last year to get us into the playoffs!
4th: Stamkos…took him 3+ years to hit his stride. Duchene will push the century mark next year…mark my words!
5th: Your a troll! Enough said!

Chris Morrow

Duchene did not score a goal last year to get the Avs in the playoffs. He put a puck in a net during a NHL skills competition endorsed by one G. Bettman.

The Avs were awarded a playoff spot by “winning”a skills competition that Vancouver had zero interest in.

It was not a goal. It was an NHL rule change (a stupid one at that) that allowed the Avalanche to be awarded a playoff spot.

Facts are facts.

JF Martineau

At 20 of Age this guy will be dominant very soon in this league!
I cant believe no one talk about 10 – 3 slap from the blues against the Red wings!
All those 40 years old are showing some fatigue right now, they will get crush like bugs in the playoff, thats why i ratter see the Avs rebuild on youth and futur than just try to make the Playoff! Every one talk about Chris Stuart trade been a bad trade but what about Dion Phaneuf trade in Calgary thats what a call a very Bad trade!

Chris Morrow

You aren’t a real Avs fan. You can’t even spell Chris Stewart’s
name correctly.

JF Martineau

At 20 of Age this guy will be dominant very soon in this league!
I cant believe no one talk about 10 – 3 slap from the blues against the Red wings!
All those 40 years old are showing some fatigue right now, they will get crush like bugs in the playoff, thats why i ratter see the Avs rebuild on youth and futur than just try to make the Playoff! Every one talk about Chris Stuart trade been a bad trade but what about Dion Phaneuf trade in Calgary thats what a call a very Bad trade!

Chris Morrow

You aren’t a real Avs fan. You can’t even spell Chris Stewart’s
name correctly.

K22above

2 weeks ago it looked like Duchene had pretty much mailed-it-in for the season, so it’s encouraging to finally see him pull out of his funk & put some pucks in the net recently. I’ll give him credit for that.

It does still concern me though that he never seems to score from anywhere other than about 5 feet (or less) from the net. I’m hoping the kid works on his shooting in the offseason, coz it sure would help the cause if he (and others) could blast some shots home now-and-again from distance. No forward on this team seems capable of launching a missile when the opportunity arises, other than maybe Mueller. That is a SERIOUS weakness.

Barklez

I agree that he doesn’t seem to be scoring any outside goals, but do you remember the big clapper he had coming down the wing a month or two ago? He acknowledges that his slapshot is better than he gives it credit for and that he should be taking more. Once he does start shooting more he should hit 40+ easily.

Anonymous

His problem is he either misses the net from far away, or seems to pound it right into the logo. He definitely needs to work on his accuracy on the rush.

K22above

2 weeks ago it looked like Duchene had pretty much mailed-it-in for the season, so it’s encouraging to finally see him pull out of his funk & put some pucks in the net recently. I’ll give him credit for that.

It does still concern me though that he never seems to score from anywhere other than about 5 feet (or less) from the net. I’m hoping the kid works on his shooting in the offseason, coz it sure would help the cause if he (and others) could blast some shots home now-and-again from distance. No forward on this team seems capable of launching a missile when the opportunity arises, other than maybe Mueller. That is a SERIOUS weakness.

Barklez

I agree that he doesn’t seem to be scoring any outside goals, but do you remember the big clapper he had coming down the wing a month or two ago? He acknowledges that his slapshot is better than he gives it credit for and that he should be taking more. Once he does start shooting more he should hit 40+ easily.

Anonymous

His problem is he either misses the net from far away, or seems to pound it right into the logo. He definitely needs to work on his accuracy on the rush.

Barklez

He’s always been pretty good with the media, but does it seem to anyone else like he’s rounding into more of a potential future captain?

Sherman Tank

Lets be fair here, MOST of the team who score, are scoring in a losing team…see the win / loss %. Your argument is silly.

mike

Duchene will never be a captain. Not on this team or any other.

Jsteve21

Now that we have your opinion how about listing some reasons to support your conclusion! Duchene will wear the “C” within 3 years! He has what it takes: leadership, devotion, desire, motivation, the list could go on an on. If your going to post at least support your own argument!

mike

Duchene will never be a captain. Not on this team or any other.

Barklez

He’s always been pretty good with the media, but does it seem to anyone else like he’s rounding into more of a potential future captain?

Sherman Tank

Lets be fair here, MOST of the team who score, are scoring in a losing team…see the win / loss %. Your argument is silly.

mike

Duchene will never be a captain. Not on this team or any other.

Jsteve21

Now that we have your opinion how about listing some reasons to support your conclusion! Duchene will wear the “C” within 3 years! He has what it takes: leadership, devotion, desire, motivation, the list could go on an on. If your going to post at least support your own argument!

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.

Chambers covers college and professional hockey for The Denver Post. He has written for the Post since 1994, after dumping his first 9-to-5 office job a couple years out of college. He primarily follows the University of Denver hockey team and helps cover the Avalanche.